"James Harden took that big a** pay cut because he knows he ain't that ni**a no more", "Brother you couldn’t have f**king done this in 2012" - Fans ruthlessly mock Philly star as he takes $15m pay cut
Philadelphia 76ers superstar James Harden will return to the team in free agency. The former MVP took a $15 million pay cut to bolster his team's chances of building a competitive roster around him and Joel Embiid.
The Sixers have already acquired one of the most coveted veterans in PJ Tucker, signing him to a lucrative three-year $30 million deal. Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey will be eligible to sign an extension at the end of the season.
James Harden is taking a $15M paycut next season with “sole focus” on a title run with the Sixers, per @ShamsCharania
Harden opted out of his $47M player option, giving Philly roster flexibility, and now plans to sign a new two-year deal with a player option in his second year https://t.co/3JobqmCNs8
Harden had an underwhelming debut season with the Philadelphia 76ers after joining them midway through the 2021-22 campaign. He will be hoping to get back to his best next season.
It's evident that Harden is willing to do whatever it takes to win his first championship, and his decision to take a pay cut is a testament to that.
Fans had mixed reactions to Harden's new contract.
One fan wrote on Twitter:
"James Harden took that big a** pay cut bcuz he knows he ain't that ni--a no more"
Another fan took a dig at Harden for not taking a pay cut in 2012 with the OKC Thunder.
"Brother you couldn’t have f**king done this in 2012"
Here are some more reactions below:
Sources: James Harden is taking a $15 million paycut for next season that allowed Philadelphia to elevate roster — with sole focus on a championship run in 2023. Harden opted out of his $47M player option and now plans to sign a new two-year deal with a player option in Year 2.
*James Harden takes a $15 million paycut*
The clubs in Philly: https://t.co/ejbQo20BhV
@LegionHoops @ShamsCharania Took a $15m paycut so pj doesnt have to guard him anymore
@LegionHoops @ShamsCharania Ring chasing https://t.co/1cBgDzggXh
@ShamsCharania "James Harden" "championship run"
https://t.co/3dwLteZ9Zr
@ShamsCharania he’s an angel https://t.co/jX55OBeZZk
@BleacherReport @ShamsCharania Embiid right now https://t.co/Oyfnmpxa70
@BleacherReport @ShamsCharania It shouldn’t be considered a pay cut if you deserve the pay cut
@BleacherReport @ShamsCharania Sixers back in free agency w 2 mil https://t.co/MVFMaE1vXb
@BleacherReport @ShamsCharania It’s admirable what Harden did, but he’s basically leaving after this season. And yes he will leave lol 😂 https://t.co/4RMN0wRnM8
@BleacherReport @ShamsCharania Imagine if the 76ers don’t win a chip in the next 2 years & he took a payout for nothing. 😂
@BleacherReport This dude man 😂. He’ll take a 15 Million Dollar PayCut to stay with Philly but wouldn’t take a 5 Million Dollar PayCut to stay with KD and Russ https://t.co/Ryx5sk3OAT
Philadelphia 76ers' chances of winning the championship depend on James Harden's performances
The Philadelphia 76ers have failed to get past the conference semifinals since 2001, when they made the NBA Finals. Over the past few years, they have had chances to progress to the conference finals and possibly the NBA Finals.
However, the Sixers always lacked the firepower to make a deep playoff run. They lacked a piece or two that could have made the difference for them.
During the 2021 playoffs, Philadelphia didn't have a legitimate scoring option to help Joel Embiid. Last season, James Harden failed to play at a high level consistently. The 2018 league MVP hasn't looked the same since his hamstring injury in 2021.
The Sixers signed him in a blockbuster trade in exchange for Ben Simmons, hoping he could take the pressure off Embiid. But that wasn't the case.
The Philadelphia 76ers have acquired a proven veteran in PJ Tucker this offseason. Tucker compensates for the departures of defensive-minded players like Danny Green and Ben Simmons. His perimeter shooting also makes up for Matisse Thybulle's shortcomings on offense.
However, the Sixers' hopes of being successful hinges on how well Harden performs. If he can be a legitimate scoring threat, he will open up the floor for Embiid to be even more impactful.